As a sugar syrup is cooked, water boils away, the sugar concentration increases, and the temperature rises. … For example, at 235° F, the syrup is at the “soft-ball” stage. That means that when you drop a bit of it into cold water to cool it down, it will form a soft ball.
How long do you boil for soft ball stage?
Allow the temperature to rise on the thermometer until it stops, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. If the thermometer is accurate it should read 212°F, at sea level. See boiling point for other altitudes below.
How do you know when sugar is at soft ball stage?
Using a clean spoon, carefully take a little of the syrup and drop it into the bowl of cold water. Leave to cool for a moment then pick up the ball of syrup. If it’s pliable, sticky and can be moulded in your fingers easily, it has reached the soft ball stage and the syrup can be used to make fudge and marzipan.
What is soft ball stage when making tablet?
Soft-Ball Stage is a cooking term meaning that a sugar syrup being heated has reached 112 – 116 C (234 – 240 F.) It is a test of how hot a sugar syrup is, and of how much water is left in it. At this point of heating, the sugar concentration in the syrup is 85%.
How long does it take for candy to get to soft ball stage?
Over medium heat, cook the syrup for until mixture reaches the soft-ball stage, 239°F (about 10 to 15 minutes).
How long does it take for fudge to get to soft ball stage?
Boil until the mixture reaches 234°F on a candy thermometer. Stir occasionally throughout the boiling time. Note: If you do not have a candy thermometer, allow the mixture to boil to the soft-ball stage. Check after boiling for 10 minutes.
What is a soft boil?
A vigorous simmer/gentle boil is indicated by more constant small bubbles breaking the surface of the liquid, with frequent wisps of steam, and by larger bubbles beginning to rise. It’s perfect for thickening a liquid into a sauce without the splattering that boiling might create.
Why is my sugar glass not hardening?
The simple answer is that there is too much moisture in your candy. One or more factors could be contributing to this problem. In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture.
How long does it take to reach hard crack stage?
Continue boiling, uncovered, not stirring the mixture but shaking the saucepan occasionally to distribute the heat as the mixture turns amber in about 9 minutes, then darker amber as it registers 305 degrees on the thermometer (hard-crack stage ), about 3 minutes longer.
What does soft ball stage mean when making fudge?
Nigella’s Vanilla Fudge is a cooked fudge that is boiled to what is known as “soft ball stage”. … If the mixture forms a thread as it sinks into the water then it needs cooking for a little longer. If the mixture sets and forms a ball that you can squish easily between your fingers then it has reached the correct stage.
Is Scottish tablet the same as fudge?
Tablet (taiblet in Scots) is a medium-hard, sugary confection from Scotland. … Tablet differs from fudge in that it has a brittle, grainy texture, where fudge is much softer. Well-made tablet is a medium-hard confection, not as soft as fudge, but not as hard as hard candy.
What is the firm ball stage?
A test for sugar syrup describing the point at which a drop of boiling syrup immersed in cold water forms a firm but pliable ball. On a candy thermometer, the firm-ball stage is between 244° and 248°F.
What does boiling sugar water do?
The addition of sugar to boiling water forms a paste, which sticks to skin and intensifies burns. It is a tactic commonly used in prisons, where it is described as “napalm” due to the way it attaches to skin and burns.
How do you make soft ball stage sugar?
Soft-ball stage refers to a specific temperature range when cooking sugar syrups, occurring between 235 and 245 F. In addition to using a candy thermometer, this stage can be determined by dropping a spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl of very cold water.
How can I tell if I have a hard crack stage without a thermometer?
If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can use the cold water test in a pinch: Drop a spoonful of hot syrup into cold water, then remove the candy from the water and attempt to bend it. If your syrup has reached the hard-crack stage, it will form brittle strands in the water and crack as you bend it.
How long does it take to boil maple syrup to soft ball stage?
In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium-high heat stirring occasionally. Boil until syrup reaches 235 degrees F (110 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and cool to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C) without stirring, about 10 minutes.